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The Government has approved two more grants totalling $4.14 million from the Disaster Relief Fund for two relief organisations to undertake relief projects for drought victims in Guangxi, Guizhou and Yunnan Provinces/Region.
"It is hoped that the grants - one of $2.64 million to Oxfam Hong Kong and one of $1.5 million to World Vision Hong Kong - will help provide relief to drought victims in Guangxi, Guizhou and Yunnan Province/Region.
"To ensure that the money will be used for the designated purposes, the relief agencies have been asked to submit evaluation reports and audited accounts on the use of the grants after the relief projects have been completed," a Government spokesman said today (April 23).
The grants are further to a disbursement of $135.85 million made earlier for the government authorities of Guangxi, Guizhou and Yunnan Provinces/Region, The Amity Foundation, The Association of Chinese Evangelical Ministry Limited, Operation Blessing Hong Kong Limited, The Salvation Army and World Vision Hong Kong to provide emergency relief to victims of the drought. It takes the total value of grants for drought victims on the Mainland to $139.99 million.
The Government said that this had been made possible under a fast-track mechanism set up on the advice of the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee for the Government to process applications from relief organisations for grants to provide relief to the drought victims more expeditiously.
Ends/Friday, April 23, 2010
Issued at HKT 15:01
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